have you ever had an experience

[nailit]

that cant be presently explained?
Or an experience that has made you question what you believe about life?

[Sir Alec]

There's no such thing as ghosts?
My friend and I were sitting in a pub. The landlord had recently bought the house next door when the owner died and extended the pub.
Claire and I both distinctly heard a sniffing noise and a jangling of a dog's chain, yet there was no dog there. She even said to me. "Did you hear that?"
It's something I've never been able to explain. I only hope that the dog ghost found happiness.

[supersuezy24]

"Personally, I think its arrogant to dismiss peoples experiences as delusional or to claim that they are lying. Ive read a lot of sceptical literature over the years by people such as James Randie and Richard Wiseman. For a long time I agreed with almost everything they said but recently their 'certainty' that peoples experiences can all be explained away in mundane terms has begun to sound to much like the 'certainty' that religious people have about their faith.
Both the avowed sceptics and the religious faithful seem to be closed minded to me.
No doubt someone will post a link to Randi's million dollar challenge... "

Agree with you on this nailit, I find it patronising of someone to dismiss another posters experience, unless they have experienced what the person has how are they to know...

[Sir Alec]

birdie1971 - not correct, we both heard the dog! You cannot just dismiss the experience of two people. If it had just been me or her, I could have dismissed it, but both of us experienced it. Fact!

[jomifl]

Sir Alec, you heard something that you thought you recognised as a dog. It could have been something else. Just because you don't know what caused the 'noise' doesn't mean it was a ghost. There may be more plausible explanations.

[naomi24]

I’ve been thinking about Keyplus’ experience – and I think Birdie is right. We don’t have enough information. I wondered if the neighbour actually spent the whole evening at dinner with Keyplus and his nephew, how long was the nephew there, what they talked about and whether the conversation went as it usually would – and if, for example, the nephew went to the loo during the evening.

Any chance of answering those questions and elaborating a bit, Keyplus?

Birdie, you state categorically that there’s no such thing ‘ghosts’ (for want of a better word). I have to disagree with you. I do not tell lies and I do not suffer from delusions. In my experience (which, having lived in a so-called ‘haunted’ house for a good number of years, is fairly considerable), something certainly exists that we simply do not understand. I don’t believe that anything is ‘supernatural’, and therefore, it doesn’t make sense to me that people who claim to be men of science are so instantly dismissive of something of which they have no knowledge. Surely science should be curious?

[tamborine]

G'son was reading ghost stories last night. I said they're are no ghosts; then a tin of crayons fell off the sideboard.

No one had been to or near the sideboard.

[bagpuss63]

tamborine, when watching Most Haunted Live a few years ago (son was in room on other sofa) a book (or somrthing-shelf untidy) fell on my head. I hadn't touched the bookcase, OR just sat back down. (ie knocked it) I know nothing had come off or gone on shelf that day. It really freaked me out, but would have been worse if alone. Ok, yes, shelf untidy, but why hit me on head in that programme on October 31st? (around 11pm) son laughed-little pig

[sith123]

i have to agree, i thing it is arrogant to dismiss someones stories. if you had the same experience than it would be hard to explain and if you were questioned i am sure you would not like it. dream or no dream, it is an interesting story.

[keyplus90]

/////Naomi - Any chance of answering those questions and elaborating a bit, Keyplus?////

And then you are asking me if my nephew did that or that and even if he went to the loo? Next you would be asking if my nephew did number one or two in the loo. Why don’t you agree a bit more with Birdie to whom I can only say that “my dear birdie you are right and I had a dream”. Happy now?

Because I am sure that is the only acceptable answer as far as birdie is concerned. Be happy and wait until anything happen to you and then someone would tell you that you had a dream. By the way I do not need a certificate or someone else telling me what I did or did not see.

[vulcan]

Keyplus, do you have an explanation or theory on this situation ? After all it's physically impossible for a person to be in two places at once.

[jomifl]

Tambo, Are you implying that reading ghost stories conjures up ghosts or stimulates the imagination?

[jomifl]

Sir Alec, I don't understand the dog/chain connection with the pub, is there something I have missed?

[naomi24]

Ha ha! Sorry Keyplus, I know asking if your nephew went to the loo sounds odd, but I’m trying to ascertain whether his visit to you was a ‘regular’ one. (Sorry ‘bout that). :o)

If someone had travelled some distance, which, since he subsequently said he was stuck in traffic, I assume he did, the chances are he wouldn’t have left for the return journey without a ‘comfort’ break – and getting down to the facts of ‘life’, I’ve never heard of a ‘ghost’ needing to use the loo. You lived in a room in a hostel, so when you say you cooked ‘dinner’, I suspect it wasn’t a formal dinner consisting of several courses that would have taken hours to get through, but rather a one plate meal that would have been finished in a very short time. You say your friend was with you, but have failed to say whether or not he remained with you throughout the evening. You also say your sister insists she was with your nephew for the entire evening, and told you they were stuck in traffic, so you must have been expecting her to arrive with him. What was your nephew’s explanation for her absence?

I know you don’t like answering me, but whether or not your experience resulted from a vivid dream, this is a fascinating topic which we’re trying to discuss in a rational way, so it’s a shame you’re getting so grumpy and miserable again.

[naomi24]

Birdie, //Correct me if I'm wrong but I understand that many studies into ghosts, hauntings, etc. have been carried out and none of them has produced any evidence that there is something happening outside of the realm of science. In fact, many supposed hauntings have been shown to be nothing more than naturally occurring phenomena or deliberate hoaxes.//

That’s absolutely true – but shouldn’t we consider the possibility that this is something that really is currently outside the realm of science? I don’t claim to be a scientist, but I can’t help thinking of the double slit experiment. As this link concludes, in that instance ‘We have reached a conclusion which is far from what our common sense tells us’.

http://www.hitachi.co...ch/em/doubleslit.html

[goodlife]

Despite some evidence to the contrary, there are those who feel that they cannot conscientiously deny what they have experienced.

While that may be so, it is important to keep in mind that the Bible warns of deceptive, demonic spirits. (1 John 4:1) They are described as “working miracles,” even misleading mighty rulers. (Revelation 16:14) they may use humans to produce powerful works, but the visible effects do not prove that they come from God. Even if it was done in the name of the Lord Jesus, Jesus himself said, Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, I never knew you. Matthew 7:22, 23,

[naomi24]

Goodlife, //the visible effects do not prove that they come from God.//

It never occurred to me for an instant that they do come from God - or from the Devil for that matter. In my opinion, nothing is supernatural. Perhaps might consider getting your head out of just one book and look a bit further at some of the other, more interesting - and more rational - reading material that is available in the 21st century.